Rand Paul hesitantly says he would support Trump if he's the nominee

Sen. Rand Paul hesitantly conceded that he would support Donald Trump in the general election if the real estate mogul were to win the Republican nomination.

"Yeah, I think it would have to happen," Paul said Wednesday during an interview with MSNBC.

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He cautioned, though, that it will be a long time before the nominee becomes clear. He also said the reason he would support Trump is that establishment Republicans did the same thing when he won the Republican nomination for Senate in Kentucky. "That's the way party politics work, is people come around and support the nominee. But we're a long way away from that," Paul said.

The comment is in contrast with the nasty relations between Paul and the billionaire businessman. Paul was one of the earliest and most direct critics of Trump as polls showed him rising to the top of the Republican presidential field.

In the interview, Paul also took a few moments to bad-mouth Trump. "I think there's a very good chance that Trump doesn't win in Iowa. I think that the veneer comes off, and I think he'll struggle in New Hampshire as well."

Trump, of course, hasn't taken any of Paul's attacks lying down. He's countered proudly that every time a competitor has started criticizing him, that candidate's poll numbers drop and his rise.

"Lightweight Senator @RandPaul should focus on trying to get elected in Kentucky -a great state which is embarrassed by him," Trump tweeted in September.